Spilled substances, handling

SPILL CLEAN-UP sweep spilled substance into containers sweep gently to avoid raising dust or use handling methods, such as wet vacuuming, to minimize dust dispersal wash away remainder with plenty of water. 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA also SARA 313") (42 U.S. Code 1101 et seq.) (Part of Superfund) Provides authority for communities to devise plans for preventing and responding to chemical spills and release into the environment requires pubhc notification of the types of hazardous substances handled or release by fa-cihties requires state and local emergency plans. 

The procedure should prescribe how to clean up the spilled substance and the personal protective equipment (gloves, respirators) that should be worn in such a case. Specific emergency kits are used in hospital pharmacies and wards where antineoplastic medicines are handled and administered. These ready-to-use kits, also called spill boxes, are commercially available A standard content is provided by the ESOP (European Society of Oncology Pharmacy) [85]. 

Other sources of hazard arise from the handling of such chemicals as concentrated acids, alkalis, metallic sodium and bromine, and in working with such extremely poisonous substances as sodium and potassium cyanides. The special precautions to be observed will be indicated, where necessary, in the experiments in which the substances are employed, and will also be supplied by the demonstrator. The exercise of obvious precautions and cautious handling will in most cases reduce the danger to almost negligible proportions. Thus, if concentrated sulphuric acid should be accidentally spilled, it should be immediately washed with a liberal quantity of water or of a solution of a mild alkali. 

Solubility — the amount of a given substance (the solute) that dissolves in a unit volume of a liquid (the solvent). This property is of importance in the handling and recovery of spilled hazardous materials. Water-insoluble ehemicals are much easier to reeover from water than spills of water-soluble chemicals. Acetone, which is miscible/soluble in water in all proportions, is not readily reeoverable from water. In contrast, benzene, which is lighter than water and insoluble as well, can be readily trapped with a skimmer. For organie eompounds, solubility tends to deerease with inereasing moleeular weight and ehlorine content. 

An MSDS sheet serves as a reference source for information on a hazardous substance. Tlie MSDS sheet identifies the substance, identifies die producer or seller of die substance, the location of die producer or seller, explains why the substance is hazardous, explains how a person can be exposed to die substance, identifies conditions that increase the hazard, explains safe handling procedures, identifies proper protective clothing or devices to be used when working with die substance, explains the steps dial should be taken if a person is exposed to die substance, and explains die steps dial should be taken if there is a spill or emergency situation. 

These concentrations are considerably below the LFL of 1.4% by volume, which illustrates that the specified ventilation rate for Class I liquids is satisfactory for handling relatively large spills of flammable materials. The concentrations do, however, exceed the TLV for this substance. 

Spill/Leak Disposal Outright cleanup or disposal of Infectious Substances (biological agents or weapons) should ONLY be handled by trained and experienced personnel. To contact such help, call any or all of the following numbers. 

A4.3.12.1 Provide information to evaluate the environmental impact of the substance or mixture if it were released to the environment. This information can assist in handling spills, and evaluating waste treatment practices and should clearly indicate species, media, units, test duration and test conditions. Where information is not available this should be stated. Provide also a short summary of the data given under A4.3.12.3toA4.3.12.7. 

Another kind of early slurry was that developed by Gehrig of Atlas Chemical Industries [85]. It consisted of a saturated solution of ammonium nitrate in nitric acid of 60-70% IINO3 and some organic substances which are not attacked by nitric acid, for example, vinyl polymers. However handling of the solution with nitric acid is difficult and can be dangerous. A fire occurred in a factory in Rourkela (India) in 1972 througli spilling nitric acid slurry on wooden boards [86]. 

Right-to-Know Working Around Hazardous Substances From worker perspective, labeling and handling of hazardous chemicals, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives, flammables, water-sensitive chemicals, spill response, and protective and emergency equipment. BNA Communications Inc. 

If extracts, fractions, or pure compounds are spilled, they must immediately be cleaned up. If not, others may be unknowingly be exposed to the compound. Even one small drop of a compound such as myclamide A, a substance that is extremely irritating and causes immediate blistering of the skin upon exposure, can be extremely unpleasant if touched. The long-term effects of exposure, such as tumor promotion, and teratogenicity, are not known for most of these compounds, and so exposure should be avoided. In summary, handle all marine specimens and extracts with caution. Use proper protective wear and minimize exposure to the materials. This is true of both the raw organism and extracts or fractions derived thereof. 

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